Belt buckles



BELT BUCKLES Filed Sept. 20, 1952 F- M. BENDER ET AL .zfmyrpwm March 29, 1955 United States Patent O BELT BUCKLES Frank M. Bender, Evanston, lll., and Charles F. Muller, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 20, 1952, Serial No. 310,648

12 Claims. (Cl. 24-77) This invention relates to belt buckles.

One object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle which can be easily and expeditiously manipulated to fasten together the ends of the belt and to facilitate release of one end for adjustment to lit the body of a user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle which includes an improved device which is adapted to snap into and out of holding position.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly detined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a belt buckle embodying the invention applied to secure the ends of the belt together;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the buckle with the retaining pins in position to release the free end of the belt so the belt can be adjusted around or remove from the body of the wearer;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the ends of the belt fastened together by the buckle;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the end of the belt which is provided with a hook for engaging one end of the buckle;

Figz. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6--6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a modied form of the invention, the buckle being released for adjustment of the belt; and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of another modified form of the invention.

The invention is exemplified with a belt 9 which may be of suitable or elastic fabric, one end of which is adapted to be fixed to buckle and the other end of which is free for adjustment to fit around the body of the wearer and secured in the buckle so it will be rmly retained around the user.

The buckle comprises a tubular body generally designated 10 in which positions of the belt are held in overlapped relation, one end of the belt being anchored in the body and the other end being slidable therethrough. The body 10 comprises front and rear parallel walls 11 and 12 which are longitudinally curved to conform to the body of the user, and top and bottom connecting walls 13 and 14 between the front and rear walls. The ends of the body 10 are open for the passage of the ends of the belt 9 therethrough. One end portion 9 of the belt 9 is provided with a clasp 16 of sheet metal which includes a plate 17 and tongues 1S which t against and are indented into the faces of the end portion 9 of the belt for xedly attaching the clasp to the belt. Clasp 16 also includes a tongue which forms a flat resilient hook 19 which is adapted to receive and tightly grasp one end of the inner wall 12 for anchoring the end 9 of the belt to the body 10 with the belt extending along the curved inner face of the rear wall of body 10 and around the user, and thence into the body to overlap the end of the belt which is anchored in the body 10 with its free end extending outwardly from the body 10 so it is accessible for exerting a pull for tightening the belt.

The buckle includes a front bar 21 of bar steel whlch is longitudinally curved or bowed conformably to the front Wall 11 of the body 10, a pair of pointed hard metal pins or prongs 22 which are welded in reinforcing plates ice 23. The walls of body 10 form a channel in which the ends of the belt are conned in overlapped relation and the free end is slidable. Pleats 23 are welded to the inner face of the bar 21. The pins 22 have sharp points for piercing the fabric of the belt, and are adapted to pass through opening 24 in the front wall of body 10 and to pass through the free end of the belt and to enter the anchoredend of the belt in the body 10. Bar 21 on which the pins 22 are fixed is supported by a twoway bow spring 27, the ends of which are restrained by hooks 28 on the ends of said bar. A stamped sheet metal clip 30 has a back member and tongues which extend through slots 31 in the front Wall 11 of body 10 and are pressed against the front of the central portion of spring 27 for securing bar 21 and spring 27 together and to extend across the front wall 11 of body 10. The spring 27 is adapted to be bent or buckled to snap across its dead center between the ends of bar 21 for resiliently and alternately piercing and holding the bar 21 and pin 22 in their alternative positions to release the free end of the belt or to fasten it in the body 10. The ends of bar 21 and bow spring 47 extend laterally of the ends of body 10 so that a nger of the user may be inserted behind spring 27 for pressing the spring 27 and bar 21 forwardly to withdraw the pins 22 from the belt.

In assembling the belt and buckle, the bow spring 27 as shown in Fig. 2 will support bar 21 in its forward position and pins 22 will be withdrawn from the channel in the body 10 so that the channel will be clear for the passage of the end 9 of the belt which is provided with hook 19 through the body 10. The hook 19 will then be engaged with one end of rear wall 12 of the body 10 and said end of the belt will be anchored in the said body against removal by a pull or tension in the direc tion in which pull is exerted when the belt is around the body of the user.

In using the belt, it will be passed around the users body with its anchored end attached to the belt. The free end of the belt will be passed through the channel in body 10 in front of the anchored end and drawn as taut as desired.

While so held, the bar 21 will be pressed backwardly so the bow spring will snap across its dead center into position to press bar 21 backwardly. The pins 22 will be forced through the front and into the rear overlapping portions of the belt in body 10 and will resist the elongation of the belt as shown in Fig. 3. The belt will then be fastened to retain its adjusted length. When it is desired to remove or adjust the belt, the user will exert sutiicient forward pressure at either or both ends of the bar 21 or spring 27 to snap the bow spring forwardly across its dead center into its alternative position as shown in Fig. 2. The free end of the belt can then be adjusted or removed from the body 10.

In this construction the pins 22 pass through or into both ends of the belt and each pin is stressed in opposite directions by the tension on the belt when it is in use to avoid unilateral stresses on the pins. The construction described is usable with fabric or elastic belts and the small pins 22 are adapted to pass through the belt material at any point without producing visible holes in the free end of the material.

For use with leather belts, the buckle shown in Fig. 7 may be used. This is the same as the construction described, except that the leather belt 34 is provided with preformed holes 35 along its free end and pins 36 on the strip 21 have no points for piercing the belt. ln this modification, one end of the belt is anchored by a clasp 16 with a hook 19 which is engaged with one end of the front wall of body 10 and the free end of the belt is passed through the body at the back of the anchored end. Holes 38 are preformed in the anchoredV is provided with clasp 16 is passed through the body 10 and the clasp is anchored by its hook 19 on one end of the front wall 11 of body 10 while the spring 27 and strip 21 are in the position shown in Fig. 7. The opposite end of the belt 34 is passed through body 10 1n back of the end which is hooked to the clasp and drawn to adjust the length of the belt to lit the user. The strip 21 is then pressed backwardly to operate spring 27 across its dead center and to pass pins 36 through holes 38, 35 and into holes 39 in the overlapped portion of the belt. If the pins 36 do not register with holes 35, the free end of the belt will be adjusted until they register with holes 38 when the spring 27 which has crossed the dead center will press the pins 36 into a pair of the holes 38 and positively hold the belt in its adjusted position.

Obviously, the buckle can be interchangeably used on dilferent belts.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in which the back wall 12 of tubular body 40 is provided with a slot 41 through which one end of the belt is looped with overlapping portions stitched together for anchoring one end of the belt to the body. The front bar 21, bow spring 27 and pins 22 are of the same construction shown in Figs. l to 6. A pad 43 of stout fabric is suitably secured to the inner face of back wall 12. The anchored end of the belt does not extend through entire body 40 and pins 22 on bar 21 are adapted to be passed through the free end of the/belt and into the pad 43 by the spring 27 for resisting bending stresses on the pins 22 by the strains on the belt.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle for a liexible belt having one of its ends adapted to be anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular body having means to which said end of the belt may be anchored and forming a channel through which the free end of the belt is longitudinally slidable in aligned relation with the anchored end, for adjusting the belt, a bar in front of the body, means on the bar, movable through the front of the body and into the belt in the body for fastening the free end of the body, a twoway bow spring having its central portion lixedly secured to the front of the body and exible across its dead center and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and llexing it across its dead center to oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently holding the bar in position to fasten or to release the free end of the belt.

2. A buckle for a exible belt having one of its ends adapted to be anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular longitudinally curved body having means to which one end of the belt may be anchored, and forming a channel through which the free end of the belt is longitudinally slidable in aligned relation with the anchored end of the belt for adjusting the belt, a bar in front of and curved conformably to the body, pins on the bar, movable through the front of the body and into the free end of the belt in the body, for fastening the free end of the belt in the body, and a two-way bow spring having its central portion xedly secured to the front of the body and its ends restrained by said bar and exible across its dead center for alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten or release the free end.

3. A buckle for a exible belt having one of its ends adapted to be anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular body having means to which the belt may be anchored, and forming a longitudinal channel through which the free end of the belt is longitudinally slidable in aligned relation with the anchored end for adjusting the belt, a bar in the front of the body, a plurality of pins on the bar, movable through the front of the body and into and for fastening the free end of the belt, a twoway bow spring having its central portion fixedly secured to the front of the body and exible across its dead center, and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing it across its dead center to opposit'ely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten or to release the free end.

4. A buckle for a belt provided with a hook at one of lts ends comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, one end of one of said walls being adapted for connection to one end of the belt, the walls formingan open-ended channel in which the free end of the belt is slidably confined in aligned relation and the anchored end for adjustment in the body, a bar in front of the front wall, a plurality of pins on the front bar adapted to pierce -the belt, movable through the front wall and adapted to pass through the free end of the belt into the other of the lapped portions in the body, a two-way bow spring flexible across its dead center, means xedly securing the `center portion of the spring on the centery of the front wall, and, means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and flexing it across its dead center to oppositely bowed positions to alternately and resiliently hold the bar and pins in position to fasten or release the free end of the belt. Y

5. A buckle for a flexible belt having one of its ends adapted to be detachably anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular body having means to which said end of the belt may be anchored, and a channel extending therethrough in which the anchored and free ends of the belt are confined in overlapping relation and through which the free end of the belt is longitudinally slidable for adjusting the belt, a bar in front of the body, means on the bar, movable through the front of the body and into the overlapped portions of the belt in the body for fastening them together, a two-way bow spring having its central portion xedly secured to the front of the body and flexible across its dead center, and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing it across its dead center into oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently holding the bar in position to fasten the ends of the belt together in the body or to release the free end.

6. A buckle for a exible belt having one of its ends adapted to be detachably anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular longitudinally curved body having means to which the belt may be anchored, and a channel extending therethrough in which the anchored and free ends of the belt are conned in overlapping relation and through which the free end of the belt is longitudinally slidable for adjusting the belt, a bar in the front and curved conformably to the body, sharp pins on the bar, movable through the front of the body and adapted to pierce the overlapped portions of the belt in the body for fastening them together, and a two-Way bow spring having its central portion xedly secured to the front of the body and its ends restrained by said bar and flexible across its dead center for alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten or release the free end.

7. A buckle for a belt provided with a hook at one of its ends, comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, one end of one of said wallsv being adapted to be engaged by the hook on the belt for anchoring one end of the belt in the body, the walls forming an open ended channel in which the anchoredand free ends of the belt are coniined in overlapped relation and the free end is slidable for adjustment in the body, a bar in front of the front wall, a plurality of pointed pins on the front bar, movable through the front wall and adapted to pass through one and into the other of the lapped portions of the belt in the body, a two-way bow spring exible across its dead center, means for xedly securing the center portion of the spring on the center of the front wall, and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing it across its dead center into oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently hold the bar and pins in position to fasten the belt or release the free end.

8. A buckle for a belt provided with a hook at one of its ends, comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, one end of which is adapted to bevengaged by the hook on the belt for anchoring one end of the belt in the body, the walls forming an open ended channel in which the anchored and free ends of the belt are conned in overlapped relation and the free end is slidable for adjustment in the body, a bar in front of the front wall, a plurality of pins on the front bar, movable through the front wall and having points adapted to pierce and to pass through one and into the other of the lapped portions 0L the belt in the body, a two-way bow spring exible across its dead center, means iixedly securing spring on the center front wall, and means on the ends of the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and ilexing it across its dead center into oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently hold the bar and pins in position to fasten the belt or release the free end.

9. A buckle for a belt provided with means at one of its ends adapted to be anchored to the buckle, comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, the walls forming an open ended channel in which the free end of the belt is slidably conned in aligned relation with the anchored end for adjustment in the body, a bar in front of the front wall having its ends projecting laterally from the ends of the body, a plurality of pins on the front bar, movable through the front wall and having points adapted to pierce and to pass into the free end of the belt in the body, a two-way bow spring exible across its dead center, means fixedly securing the center portion of the spring on the center front wall, and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing it across its dead center into oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently hold the bar and pins in position to fasten or release the free end of the belt.

10. A buckle for a belt provided with means for anchoring one of its ends on the buckle and having a series of holes adjacent its free end, comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, the walls forming a channel extending longitudinally through the body and in which the free end of the belt is slidable in aligned relation with the anchored end for adjusting a belt, a bar in the front of the front wall of the body, a plurality of pins on the bar, movable through the front wall and adapted to pass through the holes in the free end of the belt in the body, a two-way bow spring flexible across its dead center, means for xedly securing the center portion of the spring on the front wall, and means in the ends of the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing it across its dead center into oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten the free end of the belt in the body, or to release the free end of the belt for adjustment in the body.

1l. A buckle for a belt provided with a hook at one of its ends having a series of holes adjacent its other end, comprising, a tubular body including front and rear walls, one of which is adapted to be engaged by the hook for anchoring one end of the belt in the body, the walls forming a channel extending longitudinally through the body and in which the anchored and free ends of the belt are contined in overlapped relation and the free end is slidable for adjusting the belt, a bar in the front of the front wall of the body, a plurality of pins on the bar, movable through the front wall and through the anchored end of the belt, and adapted to pass through the holes in the free end of the belt in the body, a two-Way bow spring exible across its dead center, means for xedly securing the center portion of the spring on the front wall, and means on the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and flexing it across its dead center to oppositely bowed positions and alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten the belt ends in the body together or to release the free end of the belt for adjustment in the body.

l2. A buckle for a belt comprising a tubular body including front and rear walls, the belt having one of its ends anchored to one end of the back wall forming a channel extending longitudinally through the body and in which the free end of the belt is slidably in aligned relation with the anchored end, for adjusting the belt, a bar in front of the front wall of the body, a plurality of pins on the bar, movable through the front wall and adapted to pierce and pass through the free end of the belt, a pad on the inner face of the back wall, a two-way bow spring flexible across its dead center, means for tixedly securing the center portion of the spring on the front wall, and means on the ends of the bar for restraining the ends of the spring and exing the spring across its dead center and oppositely bow it to pass the pins through the free end and into the pad for alternately and resiliently holding the bar and pins in position to fasten the free end in the body or to release the free end of the belt for adjustment in the body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,405 McCully Mar. 9, 1880 FOREIGN PATENTS 801,456 France May 16, 1936 

